Since i personally love flashbacks in each kind of movies i would be interested in what you think what flashbacks could happen in the Desolation of Smaug ?! I always liked what PJ offered so far in AUJ or the trilogy, so whats coming next..ideas ? wishes ? hopes ?

depicting what will unfold if the Necromancer realizes his plans and potentially allies with Smaug or draws the dragon under this thrall, ALA "The Quest for Erebor".

"...do not forget the Battle of Dale. Think of what might have been. Dragon-fire and savage swords in Eriador!...But that has been averted - because I met Thorin Oakenshield one evening on the edge of spring not far from Bree."

This would allow for an homage to what occurred in the Northern Theater during the War of the Ring in the books which was not touched upon in the films (as the potential future witnessed by Frodo in FotR acted as an homage to the Scouring of the Shire). My Top 5 Wish List for "The Hobbit"5. Legolas will surf down Smaug's neck 4. Bilbo will be revealed to a Robot 3. Naked PJ cameo as Ghan-Buri-Ghan 2. Use of not only 3D, but smell-o-vision, plus the inclusion of axes coming out of the seats and poking the audience when appropriate 1. Not only keep the claim that Thorin & Co. ran amok in Mirkwood "molesting people", but depict said incident in vivid detail!!!!!

The High Fells aren't likely to be a flashback, its likely that in pick-ups they were able to change it through dialogue, that Gandalf goes from Beorn->High Fells->Dol Guldor. The reason is because they wouldn't want to have too many flashbacks, it can confuse people.

I think the film will start with Thrain and Gandalf exchanging key and map, followed with the scene in Bree with Thorin and Gandalf, then we get the title 'Desolation of Smaug' and rejoin our company walking towards Beorns. They stay at Beorns when one of Radagasts birds visits Gandalf and suddenly Gandalf must leave for the High Fells. The company go on there way, into Mirkwood.Gandalf goes back over the mountains to the High Fells.

Yes, the timeline might be very condensed, but I think the only flashback will be the Thrain stuff/Thorin stuff, which will help re-establish the story and introduce Thrain.

however - they will likely continue the trend of a dynamic prologue of the film. The exchange of map and key/Bree scene alone simply doesn't seem "big" enough to open DoS, IMO. However, I wonder if we might get a flashback within a flashback, similar to the duel Red Book/Erebor opening of AUJ.

The film might open with Gandalf and Thorin meeting in Bree, planning the trip to Erebor; Thrain is mentioned, and Gandy relates what he knows of Thorin's father - we revisit the Moria battle possibly with new detail, then follow Thrain as he's captured by Azog and brought to Dol Guldur, possibly being presented to the Necromancer. We then flash-foward to find the Company as they near Beorn's house...? Both the Moria extension, and the hint of the Necromancer might add some "oophm" to the opening sequence and put the Dol Guldur story into the forefront of the audience's awareness, while further connecting the dwarf and Necromancer stories, IMO. My Top 5 Wish List for "The Hobbit"5. Legolas will surf down Smaug's neck 4. Bilbo will be revealed to a Robot 3. Naked PJ cameo as Ghan-Buri-Ghan 2. Use of not only 3D, but smell-o-vision, plus the inclusion of axes coming out of the seats and poking the audience when appropriate 1. Not only keep the claim that Thorin & Co. ran amok in Mirkwood "molesting people", but depict said incident in vivid detail!!!!!

It won't come across in the film like he's crossed the mountain, that'll just be for the fans who know hes crossed the mountain. Gandalf can be stealthy, avoid caves etc. I doubt it'd be a problem. He would need motivation though, ie. a bird from Radagast perhaps saying hes in trouble or something.

Its possible they'll action it up, perhaps Thrain is under attack from some orcs. Perhaps Gandalf interupts the orcs first attempt at capturing Thrain.

I wouldn't say its not "big" enough, I think the theme of the importance of taking back the mountain is to the dwarves. Perhaps if Thrain is established as going to the mountain by himself to try and get in, but fails, add the Bree scene and you get pretty good motivation for why the dwarves are so determined to go to the mountain.

Agreed the scenes should work for a prolouge - if they do indeed add something(s)
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to open the film in grand fashion. The opening of FotR covers thousands of years of magic and conflict in seven minutes flat; TTT re-visists some of the most impressive imagery from the first film and sets up both why the Fellowship is leaderless and Gandy's imminent return; RotK gives us Smeagol's back story which includes a murder, fixation with the Ring of Power and a transformation (with our understanding a similar fate may eventually await Frodo); and AUJ reacquaints us with our hero (or an older version) and gives us the glory and fall of Dale/Erebor. Hence, Thrain backstory/Bree could well be the prologue, as long as it's not a simply meetings and creepings, IMO. :P

Side note - Thrain apparently disappeared at the Battle
of Moria, (which is where Gandalf is said to have found him in the film
universe), so unfortunately it seems as if his failed quest for Erebor
from the legendarium will not be included in the film version. My Top 5 Wish List for "The Hobbit"5. Legolas will surf down Smaug's neck 4. Bilbo will be revealed to a Robot 3. Naked PJ cameo as Ghan-Buri-Ghan 2. Use of not only 3D, but smell-o-vision, plus the inclusion of axes coming out of the seats and poking the audience when appropriate 1. Not only keep the claim that Thorin & Co. ran amok in Mirkwood "molesting people", but depict said incident in vivid detail!!!!!